We skipped breakfast and headed off. I decided that we should start from the Information centre once again, there was always the chance that there would be something around the area, and we had been advised by the staff at the ringing centre in A Rocha yesterday that they had seen a couple there earlier in the week.
It is really a lovely drive north on the A2, the road is empty, and winds through hill, and crosses valleys on some amazing bridges, the weather changes as well as you head up into the hills, then once again as you come out on the other side and into the steppe plains.
As we drove up the track towards the centre we were greeted once again by the larks and Corn Buntings on the fences on either side of the track. I had a feeling that the centre would be closed once again as it was Good Friday, and this was the situation as we pulled up. There was only one car present in the car park.
I walked around the information centre without my camera, and a harsh call preceded two Rollers flying off the roof and out over the field. I rushed back for the camera, but on my return there was no sign of the Rollers and I disturbed all the Cattle Egret in the field around the cattle.
I found the Roller sitting on a distant fence post.
Further beyond the haystacks a female Marsh Harrier was hunting over the grass.
Just before we set off to walk the trail once again I returned to the same spot. The Cattle Egret had returned, and I disturbed them once again and this time they flew past quite close.
Easily distinguished from the slightly taller Little Egret by the yellow orange bill, the Little egret is black, and the all dark feet where in the Little they are yellow.
We walked the trail passing the water tower where there were plenty of Lesser Kestrels and Jackdaw and no Little Owl. The wind was not as strong as last Monday and there were more butterflies about. Here a Bath White on the knapweed or thistle.
While the Small Coppers were seen on the open ground around the track.
There was a lot more water about than before, some of the ruts in the path holding quite a bit, and in the mud were large bird footprints.
We met a couple of birders that said they had seen two Great Bustard distantly, but it was better to scan the plains from high ground. We walked through the gate, and to the highest point that allowed a view north across the steppe towards Entradas.
As just seems to be the norm in these vast plains we were surrounded by singing Calandra and Crested Larks, and from the fences and posts Corn Bunting. This one allowed me to get close.
The posts add to the vastness of the plains in which this bird was so dominant
Helen asked me to check something that she described as being between two sizeable rocks. It wasn't a bird, but beyond the rocks there was something of interest, large and white, at first I thought is it was a White Stork, but lacked any black, as I moved a little bit I could see the rufous brick red patch on what was a neck. It was a Great Bustard. Helen in finding something else had managed to find the bird. The view was very distant with a heat haze but there was no doubting what we were looking at.
I then noticed to the left of the first bird what could only be another with it. Here again a poor record of the two on either side of the photograph.
We evaluated the opportunity to get any closer and the outcome was that we couldn't, this was the best we were going to get, so the hope was that we would come across some more as we drove around the area.
There was little else about so we decided to walk back, the wind was picking up once again. We had arrived a little earlier today so maybe the wind has something to do with the land warming up with the sunshine, the sun though was now being obscured by increasing cloud. A Black Kite appeared from nowhere and drifted away to the west, and was followed by a lone Raven that I managed to see in time to get a record shot.
Back at the Information Centre I headed around the back to see if the Roller were about again, but all I managed in disturbing were the Cattle Egret that had settled back in the field with the cattle. This time they flew around but towards me instead of away.
I guess flocks of this size will become a familiar sight in the UK soon.
Two closer as they passed heading out to join the mixed group of cattle and donkeys.
I went back to the car, then returned a little later not giving up, and my persistence was rewarded as I heard the raucous call once again and the pair of Roller flew from the roof. This time I was prepared.
About the size of a Jackdaw their colours are brilliant, mainly blue but with an orange brown back, and black primaries and secondaries. In flight it is more striking than when perched, the brilliant blue contrasting with the black flight feathers. The name Roller comes from the display flight where it twists, turns and rolls Lapwing style.
The Lesser Kestrels were not happy with them around in the same way they did not like the Jackdaws, maybe they saw these as just brightly coloured Jackdaws. As the Rollers flew off the female kestrel glided slowly back.
From the centre we headed back to the service road, and then onto Entradas, from here were were heading south back to Sao Marcos da Alboreira. As you leave the village on the track you pass a water tower, and then the track goes down hill and across a stream where there is a dam and small reservoir. At the back of the reservoir there were a group of Little Egret, but in the middle amongst the rocks Helen pointed out an adult Spoonbill, a surprise in this huge ocean of grass.
The road winds up with open fields on either side. After a short distance we came across the first Montagu's Harrier of the day and it gave some stunning views.
We passed through the Sao Marcos, and turned right on to the N123, we had a 3 kilometre drive to the next turn, enough to for Helen to pick out a Great Bustard in flight, which I managed to see, but it dropped out of sight behind a ridge, and we couldn't find it. It looked huge in flight, confirming its status as the heaviest European flying bird.
We turned off the N123, and headed towards Rolao, just south of Rolao we picked up some distant soaring birds. I stopped the car and picked them up, clearly a group of Griffon Vultures.
There were at least six individuals, here two.
Leaving the vultures we stopped almost immediately again in the spot where we had seen Montagu's Harrier on Monday, they were about again. We watched on circling the field, and then as I was just about to pull away I noticed something on a fence post close to the car. i couldn't believe it, a male Montagu's Harrier, the window was open too and I didn't need to make any drastic movement.
Incredible views, and reminded me of a book I had on Birds of Prey where the front cover was of a male Montagu's Harrier. I really wanted to see one as close, and here it was.
This is my favourite shot.
It flew off and I was able to get out and get some more photographs of the birds flying around the field.
The male
Male and female, they were actually coming together and talon grappling.
Then the male flying over me, a wonderful experience
At the junction with Viseus we turned left, heading east to Alcaria de Coelho, then turning south to Figueirinha. Just outside the village we stopped. a rock close to the road was covered with rusty lichen and this had set our hearts racing only to realise it was just a rock. We had some lunch here with Dartford Warblers all around us.
FRom Figueirinha we turned right in the direct ion of Sete. About halfway along the track, I stopped suddenly, I had seen a head in the grass. Looking across though it owned a black and white neck, a Little Bustard.
After seeing two only in flight last Monday it was nice to see one on the ground, and to get a photograph.
I parked the car somewhere more safe, and walked back to try and get a better picture, hopefully a little closer. A Crested Lark sang from a rock.
Having walked back to the area where I had seen the Little Bustard I couldn't find it so returned to the car where the local cows were fascinated by it.
We continued the loop, making our way through Santa Barbara de Padroes, just outside the village I saw yet another Little Owl on the overhead wires, and pulled over and wound down the window. The Owl just looked at me.
It was possible to get in really close the owl was quite happy.
A little further on and an Iberian Grey Shrike flew up from the ground and onto another overhead wire. As I reversed it dropped to the ground and then flew to one of the diagonal wires to a pole with a grasshopper which it promptly swallowed, you can just see a remaining leg!
The Iberian Grey Shrike was considered as a sub species of Great Grey Shrike up to the mid nineties. The one diagnostic plumage feature is the presence of a pink or light wash on the undersides. Where the species ranges overlap they do not inter breed. The Iberian Grey Shrike is the only grey shrike found in Portugal.
As I watched the shrike I noticed two large raptors behind in. I got out of the car and watched as they drifted above my head. Another lifer, the Spanish Imperial Eagle.
this is an extremely rare species with only about 150 pairs world wide, but their numbers are improving. Juveniles are more common in this area and this is what these birds are. The wing spans can reach 2.1 metres, and the adult birds can weigh between 3.5 to 5 kilos, the adult female being larger than the male.
Here the body and wing coverts are sand coloured, with the breast streaked dark brown. A distinguishing feature of this eagle in juvenile plumage is the fact that the inner three primaries are much paler and gives a pale window in the outstretched wing.
The eagles drifted overhead and away, I was really made up with this sighting.
We moved on, heading back to Viseus again and then towards the N123 through Rolao. North of Rolao we came across a Roller sitting on the overhead wire.
This was the perfect end to the day, I would have like a better view of the Great Bustard, but seeing the vast area of grass land here it is understandable why they can be so elusive.
I managed to get four lifers, Great and Little Bustard, Spanish Imperial Eagle and Lesser Kestrel. Not a bad return. Eighty seven birds for the trip was the total, not a huge list but some quality birds included. Butterflies were disappointing they were very few about, but a great trip none the less.
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